Canoe-rafting through the Ebro river rapids in Campoo

This is the serious stretch of the upper Ebro: nine kilometers between Montesclaros and Aldea de Ebro, with consecutive grade III rapids that force you to paddle through them. You don't just float down the river, you negotiate it: you must read the tongue of water, enter straight, and pull the paddle at the right moment to avoid getting sideways.

You navigate in a canoe-raft, an inflatable soft-bottomed vessel that absorbs impacts against the rocks and rights itself if it capsizes—which, on this stretch, is quite possible. A guide goes with each group, and the session begins on the shore explaining positioning, power strokes, and what to do if you end up in the water.

The flow is regulated by the reservoir dam, so the stretch maintains its level even in summer, when the rest of the northern rivers run dry. The descent lasts between one hour and forty-five minutes and two hours; the entire activity takes about three and a half hours, including preparation, briefings, and transport.

No prior experience is required, but sufficient physical fitness to paddle seriously and comfort in the water is necessary: the water comes out cold from the bottom of the dam and the rapids do not wait.